{
  "id": 14444186,
  "title": "CS Lee Kinyanjui announces plans to extend railway from Naivasha to Kampala",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/cs-lee-kinyanjui-announces-plans-to-extend-railway-from-naivasha-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T12:09:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "People Daily Kenya",
    "slug": "people-daily-kenya",
    "url": "https://peopledaily.digital/business/cs-lee-kinyanjui-announces-plans-to-extend-railway-from-naivasha-to-kampala"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui has unveiled ambitious plans to extend Kenya's railway network from Naivasha to Kampala, Uganda. This significant infrastructure development aims to bolster regional trade and enhance the flow of goods across East Africa. Speaking on October 14, 2026, Kinyanjui highlighted how the proposed railway connection would empower Kenyan businesses to access raw materials from Uganda and broaden their market reach. Construction of Kenya's section of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension towards the Ugandan border is already in progress, with the anticipated linkage expected to streamline cross-border transportation and trade. Kinyanjui emphasized the necessity for Kenya to bolster its transport infrastructure to maintain a competitive edge in regional markets. He stressed that Kenya is heavily investing in port and railway infrastructure to facilitate the movement of goods between neighboring countries. \"We have a very critical railway that runs from Mombasa to Naivasha. But we believe that without efficient railway, we cannot be able to expand our trade,\" Kinyanjui remarked. The Cabinet Secretary explained that the proposed connection to Kampala would enable Kenyan manufacturers to secure raw materials from Uganda while opening avenues for exporting finished goods. \"So we are expanding the railway from Naivasha up to Kampala to connect with Uganda,\" he stated. The railway expansion involves linking Kenya's SGR through Kisumu to Malaba, where it is intended to connect with Uganda's planned railway route to Kampala. Construction of the Naivasha–Kisumu segment commenced in July 2026, while Uganda is seeking financing for its connecting line. Kinyanjui underscored that this railway expansion aligns with Kenya's broader strategy to heighten intra-African trade and fortify domestic industries. \"Kenya seeks to rewrite its trade book,\" he declared. He advocated for enhanced collaboration with neighboring nations and regional economic blocs to facilitate the smooth movement of goods and services. The Cabinet Secretary also underscored the importance of value addition, urging African countries to move beyond exporting unprocessed agricultural products and minerals. \"Kenya is working to ensure that raw material mined from here or agriculturally grown here must be value-added here,\" Kinyanjui emphasized. He maintained that processing raw materials locally would generate employment and expand opportunities for manufacturers. The railway link is poised to bolster this strategy, although its full benefits hinge upon the completion of cross-border infrastructure and the operationalization of freight services.",
  "summary": "Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui has announced plans to extend Kenya’s railway network from Naivasha to Kampala, Uganda, in a major push to strengthen regional trade and improve the movement of goods across East Africa. Speaking on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Kinyanjui said the planned railway connection would help Kenyan businesses and manufacturers access raw […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}